ANA Military Police Guard Command graduates 80 Afghan military police members

By Vanessa Villarreal (USFOR-A)July 8, 2015

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5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan military policemen received M-16 familiarization training June 13 at Bagram Airfield's Maholic Range as part of Task Force Solid's Train, Advise and Assist mission. The training was in preparation for the MPs transition from the AK-47 to the M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan military policemen received M-16 familiarization training June 13 at Bagram Airfield's Maholic Range as part of Task Force Solid's Train, Advise and Assist mission. The training was in preparation for the MPs transition from the AK-47 to the M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan military policemen learned the fundamentals of the M240 Machine Gun and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon Light Machine Gun during training conducted by Task Force Solid​ at Bagram Airfield June 15. The training, which focused on weapon nomenc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan military policemen learned the fundamentals of the M240 Machine Gun and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon Light Machine Gun during training conducted by Task Force Solid​ at Bagram Airfield June 15. The training, which focused on weapon nomenc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan military policemen learned the fundamentals of the M240 Machine Gun and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon Light Machine Gun during training conducted by Task Force Solid​ at Bagram Airfield June 15. The training, which focused on weapon nomenc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (July 8, 2015) -- A graduation ceremony was held today for 80 members of the Afghan National Army's Military Police Guard Command (MPGC) who have been training to provide outside-the-wire security for the prison, Bagram Airfield, and the people of Parwan.

For the past six weeks, 12 members of Task Force Solid's Train Advise and Assist (TAA) team have been training the Afghan soldiers at the Afghan National Security Defense Facility - Parwan. The trainees are members of two Afghan Military Police kandaks, or battalions, who recently moved to Bagram from the Pol-e-Charki Prison in Kabul. Sixty of the trainees are company grade officers and NCOs.

The MPGC participated in a train-the-trainer course where they learned the tactical skills necessary to conduct security operations. The intent of the course was to teach a core group of leaders skills that they can pass on to their soldiers, allowing the units to become self-sufficient.

Twenty junior enlisted soldiers completed concurrent high mobility multi-wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) and non-tactical vehicle driver training. This training will help the soldiers pass the Afghan Army driver's test and provide initial drivers for the HMMWVs that the kandaks will receive in the upcoming weeks.

"The ANA commanders and soldiers were very thankful to have an advising team to train them on tactical skills," Sgt. Maj. Michael Oldsen, TAA NCOIC, TF Solid, said. "The unit is a Military Police Brigade that only conducted detainee operations inside Afghan prisons and detention facilities. They had very little tactical knowledge needed to assume the mission of securing the Bagram/Parwan area. The training we conducted will enable the leaders of the unit to continue training their soldiers on the critical skills needed to be successful in providing a safe and secure environment for the people of the Parwan and neighboring provinces, as Coalition forces continue to draw down."

After graduation, the training will take a short break during the Eid al-Fitr celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, and then resume with a new group of trainees. Graduates from this training cycle will also serve as assistant instructors for the second seven-week training cycle that's scheduled to begin on July 25.

Related Links:

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